How This Works

The beauty & power of Art is what in inspires in each person...and in turn, how it shapes 'our' world. Thank you for such a remarkable addition. Hope this helps find a cure. -NS
posted by Nicole Sangari on 3/06/08 9:01: AM

My prayers are with all of the children with autism and their families .God Bless.
posted by georgann dibiccari on 3/06/08 8:43: AM

I have to confess I haven't done any research, but my question regarding autism's link to vaccinations is what has changed from the vaccinations of 30 years ago when autism wasn't as prevelent? I'm so moved by this epidemic and want to learn more, but people seem so conflicted on the cause.
posted by Missy on 3/06/08 7:43: AM

I am in Canada and we also have wait lists up to 4 years for therapy and the governement is just recognizing our needs, but time is running out as the lists grow everyday. I have two boys one 7 and the oth3 1/2 with ASD and my oldest never received therapy other then what I could give when I left my occupation and stayed home to teach him from the age of 2 on. My youngest was able to receive therapy and it has made a significant differencee in him. We need more facilities in Canada to have the therapies along with funding. All our children need help and it needs to beimplememted now. There is no excuse for our children having to wait!
posted by Leah on 3/06/08 6:55: AM

my prayers and thoughts go out to every family who have children with autism
posted by nat on 3/06/08 4:11: AM

if the insurance companies wont insure then take it to another level and have autisim put in the medical books as a disease...afterall they cover alcoholism as a disease.............
posted by JANICE on 3/05/08 11:27: PM

I was blessed with two son's, (eldest, Mike,Jr. has Pervausive Developmental Disorder diagnosed at 2 1/2 and at 18 with epilepsy). Being that I was diagnosed with Severe Crohn's Disease at 21, I was told I would probably be unable to have children. Interesting that they are finding that Autism and PPD are linked with the gastrointestinal, I wonder if I was the carrier. Also my Mother (76) has IBS as well as my sister and her daughter. My mother's father died of colon cancer and her mother of breast cancer. My mom also has Fibromialgia and at 35 had over 100 tumers on her uterus that were begnin but would have turned cancerous. At 48, I also developed breast cancer of my left breast, the same side as my mom's mom and her grandmother. I cannot help but think these are all somewhat related. My son is the joy of my life and his Austism was greatly improved with early detection and schooled at age 3 and now speaks well,but someone has to initiate the conversations which are mostly questions and simple answers. I know although he tested out with an IQ of only 85, he is extremely intelligent in so many ways. In just one day in second grade, he was taught the sign language symbols and today at 23 can spell any word in sign. He is extremely good at working and talking on a computer but loves game shows and has memorized word for word so many movies, I can't count and uses phrases in these movies to express in words an answer to any situation. We found just recently that he studders severly (my husbsand did too as a child) and this is why he only answers in one or two words. His writing is almost dyslexic in nature. I fear for his future as he currently still lives with us as his brother is in college. He seems to fall in the cracks for all the programs and getting life or health insurance is nearly impossible. Since we obviously won't live forever and Autistic adults have just as much trouble ajusting to change of any kind, do not feel pain like you or I, cannot comprehend potentionly dangerous people or situations, as well as have their own sense of reality, I am at a standstill at what to do to assure that our son will live a full and safe life. The housing available have 10 year or more waiting lists and my son doesn't want to live with anyone but us. Help For An Angel! Debbie Tavenner, Central WI
posted by Debbie Tavenner on 3/05/08 10:57: PM

Dear Readers, I have been a physican for nearly thirty years. I think, as others have speculated, that Streptococcus pyogenes is the cause of autism. Streptococcus pyogenes, nick-named Strep A, causes common infections, usually of the respiratory type, including strep throat, tonsillitis, sinus infections, ear infrections, bronchitis, pneumonia, rheumatic fever, scarlet fever, a bad flu-like disease, and peurperal fever (child birth fever). The disease can be so subtle chronically that the individual does not seem sick to the parents or to the child themselves. Often they have pink cheeks, nose, and chin, and sometimes the "v" of the neck, because ultra-violet from the sunlight causes the capillaries of the skin to have more inflamation. It can cause murmers to the heart, also, since if it is acute enough it will cause rheumatic fever. It is a very variable disease, that is, the symptoms and the signs of the infectious disease. Even the sniffles can be caused by the organism in question. I have written to various autism societies and never get any reply. I am retired now and am writing a book and the information will be in the book. The underlying autoimmune condition can cause other target-organ diseases, but it is an extensive subject, too long to go into here. It is easy to test for: just do ASO titer, Anti-DNAse B titer, Anti-hyaluronidase titer, and Anti-Streptokinase titer tests on a group of autistic children. Also, since it is an inflammatory disease the C-reactive protein, RA factor and Sedimentation Rates will be elevated often. All patients probably have a history of frequent respiratory diseases between birth and three. Often someone in the family is a carrier and they do not know it. All the family, in my view, needs to have an examination and be treated with a stiff dose of prophylactic antibiotics, and then child treated prophylactically in a chronic fashion like they had had rheumatic fever. Plain old penicillin is usually best. Autism and its variations is a common problem, so it has to have a common cause. The prejudiced, ill concieved and thought out prohibition, one of the many incorrect edicts of "evidence based medicine", on the use of common and inexpensive antibiotics, has caused the epidemic of autism, I surely think. It is part of the PANDA's concept that is connected to Streptococcal diseases. I could be wrong, naturally, but I quite sure of it. Yours, Lance Christiansen, DO. ecnal-c@hotmail.com.
posted by Lance Christiansen, DO on 3/05/08 9:25: PM

This is for my Travis!!! Love you all and always will. Best parents this child could get. God knows what he's doing!
posted by Steff on 3/05/08 8:13: PM

My prayers and thoughts are with every person touched by autism. Beautiful children...all of them.
posted by Nikki on 3/05/08 8:02: PM

My heart goes out to each and every one of you who is affected by autism. I will be passing this link along to everyone I know in hopes to help make a difference. You are all in my prayers. ~Tanya Carter~
posted by Tanya Carter on 3/05/08 7:44: PM

I am so proud that my grandson lives in Columbia, Mo where all professionals work together to give him the best appropriate learning environments possible. He is making wonderful progress. THANKS AGAIN Grandmother
posted by shirley Durham on 3/05/08 6:39: PM

I teach six of these amazing and special kiddos in my elementary class, and I love going to work every day! I have seen first hand the benefit that early intervention has for kids on the spectrum. Early intervention is the best tool we have at this time to combat some of the more devastating aspects of this diagnosis. We need awareness and we need funding!!
posted by Abby Fannin on 3/05/08 6:21: PM

I teach at a wonderful charter school for high-functioning autistic children in North Salt Lake, Utah: Spectrum Academy. I have come to love these special children so much, and to appreciate the unique viewpoint each one possesses. I wish there was more funding to create better education materials and programs for these kids-- most are such visual learners that I spend much of my time creating worksheets and posters to make simple things more visual. And several of my students memorize movies so easily-- I'd love to have a really engaging social skills curriculum on video, at a price that our charter school can afford! I know at least one of the families of my students can't afford the medication their child needs to function at his best. Please, insurers and corporations, please do what you can to make autism easier for families to handle and for schools to help!
posted by Ms. Miller on 3/05/08 4:11: PM

I am currently an occupational therapy student and hope I have the opportunity to one day help those in need of services. We can all make a difference. My heart goes out to all those families who have a child, grandchild, neice, nephew, cousin, or friend with autism.
posted by Christina Wong on 3/05/08 4:09: PM

I hope everyone understands how important it is to spread the word of Autism, only by spreading the word and talking about it can we do something about it...Money needs to be raised to do research and find out if vacinating our children is contributing to the problem. Seeing that this is a requirment by our government, we need to know how to protect our children.
posted by Amy Hefley on 3/05/08 3:05: PM

May God be with you!
posted by Alene Cartwright on 3/05/08 2:46: PM

When my 9yr old son was just 3yrs old he was diagnosed with ADHD. From there it went to Tourettes, Obsessive/Compulsive disorder and finally PDD/NOS...an Autism Spectrum disorder. When he was to start Kindergarten I had to warn the teacher of his OCD and wandering tendancies. He was a danger to himself and others and couldnt follow the simplest of instructions. He would perseverate over the simplest of things and be unable to "turn the page". I tried from the moment he entered Kindergarten to find help for him knowing he would not be successful in school. Finally after 2yrs of testing and meetings and the help of SELPA, my son attends a special needs school and is flourishing. I thank God for this blessing.
posted by Pam B on 3/05/08 2:33: PM

My beautiful grandson Austin was diagnosed with Autism. He is now 5, able to speak and is the most loving child. He does have his moments however they are outweighed by his love for life and the support of his parents and siblings Emma and Preston. All the very best wishes, love happiness and patience as we search for a cure and the government support so many families desperately need!!! Cheers
posted by sharon jenner on 3/05/08 1:54: PM

I have a 13 year old grandson with austim. He has had his share of challenges, as well as the rest of the family, and will continue to do so. He is functiong very well now thank's to the early detiction by his mother and dad. He also has a wonderful older brother and younger sister that love him very much.. Please find it in your heart to help. Thank you,Grannie
posted by Patricia LaMar on 3/05/08 1:46: PM